Methods of using and making radiopharmaceutical pigs

ABSTRACT

A pharmaceutical pig is used to transport a syringe containing a liquid radiopharmaceutical from a radiopharmacy to a medical facility for administration to a patient. The pharmaceutical pig includes an elongate polymer cap that is removably attached to an elongate polymer base. The elongate polymer cap includes a cap shell that completely encloses a cap shielding element and the elongate polymer base includes a base shell that completely encloses a base shielding element. Preferably the polymer utilized for the cap shell and the base shell is polycarbonate resin, e.g., LEXAN(R). An inner liner is not utilized and the cap shielding element and the base shielding element, which are preferably, but not necessarily, made of lead, are completely sealed and unexposed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/486,197 entitled “Radiopharmaceutical Pig” filed on 13 Jul. 2006,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/527,301entitled “Polymer Pharmaceutical Pig and Associated Method of Use andAssociated Method of Production” filed on 9 Mar. 2005, which claimspriority to PCT Application No. PCT/US03/31823 filed on 7 Oct. 2003,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.60/419,161 filed on 17 Oct. 2002, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A pharmaceutical pig is used for transportation of liquidradiopharmaceuticals. A radiopharmacy typically dispenses a liquidradiopharmaceutical into a syringe, which is then placed in apharmaceutical pig for transport to a medical facility. Thepharmaceutical pig reduces unwanted exposure from the radioactivematerial and protects the syringe from damage. After delivery, thepharmaceutical pig is opened, the syringe is removed and theradiopharmaceutical is administered to a patient. The used syringe isput back in the pharmaceutical pig and returned to the radiopharmacy fordisposal. Some radiopharmacies are independently owned and others areowned and operated in nationwide networks by Cardinal Health, Inc.,having a place of business at 7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017and Mallinckrodt Inc., a business of Tyco International, Ltd.Conventional pharmaceutical pigs are used on a daily basis byradiopharmacies across the country. Many of the conventional pigs incurrent use are formed from plastic and lead. Of course, the lead isused as shielding material for the radiopharmaceutical. Conventionalplastic/lead pharmaceutical pigs are typically configured in a two-partor a three-part design, discussed in greater detail below. Otherconventional pharmaceutical pigs are formed from plastic and tungsten.The tungsten is an alternative shielding material to lead, but it ismuch more expensive.

The pharmaceutical pigs that are currently used with syringes areelongate devices sized to enclose a single syringe that holds a dose fora single patient. Conventional two-part pharmaceutical pigs areavailable from Biodex Medical Systems, Inc. of Shirley, N.Y. (“Biodex”)and are commonly used in the Mallinckrodt system of radiopharmacies.Conventional three-part pharmaceutical pigs are produced by CardinalHealth, Inc. and are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,931. Theseconventional three-part pharmaceutical pigs are believed to be inwidespread use in the Cardinal Health, Inc. system of radiopharmacies totransport conventional syringes.

The Biodex two-part pharmaceutical pig is formed from: a) an outerplastic shell having a removable plastic top that threadibly engages aplastic base; and b) an inner shield having an upper lead section thatfits in the plastic top and a lower lead section that fits in theplastic base. Conventional syringes are transported in this two-partpharmaceutical pig. However, because of the possibility ofcontamination, the lower section of the pharmaceutical pig is washed anddisinfected after each use in the Mallinckrodt system ofradiopharmacies.

There is a three-part pharmaceutical pig disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,519,931, assigned to Syncor International Corp., which is formed fromthe following components: a) an outer shell having a removable plastictop that threadibly engages a plastic base; b) an inner shield having anupper lead section that fits in the plastic top and a lower lead sectionthat fits in the plastic base; and c) an inner disposable liner having aremovable plastic cap that connects to a plastic base. A conventionalsyringe is contained in the disposable plastic liner, which fits intothe lead portion of the pharmaceutical pig. There is also apharmaceutical pig disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,174, which is alsoassigned to Syncor International Corp., that includes an upper shieldand a lower shield that nest within an upper outer shell and a lowerouter shell, respectively. There is a separate sharps container, havingan upper cap and a lower housing, that nests within the upper shield andthe lower shield, respectively.

John B. Phillips is listed as the inventor on several patents for athree-part pharmaceutical pig having: a) an outer plastic shell; b) aninner lead shield; and c) a removable inner liner to hold a syringe. ThePhillips' patents are as follows: U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,429; U.S. Pat. No.5,918,443; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,420. The removable inner liner in thePhillips' design has a flared hexagonal shaped section sized to surroundthe finger grip of the syringe and hold it securely in place duringtransit.

Conventional three-part lead/plastic pharmaceutical pigs, such as theSyncor design or the Phillips design described above, rely on aremovable inner liner having a cap and base to contain the syringe andprevent contamination of the lead shielding material with theradiopharmaceutical. However, both the two-part lead/plasticpharmaceutical pig and the three-part lead/plastic pharmaceutical pighave exposed lead on the interior. There is a need for a new design thatprotects the lead from inadvertent contamination by the liquidradiopharmaceutical. Lead is a very porous material that can absorb theradiopharmaceutical. Moreover, lead, as a material, might be construedas being hygienically challenging.

Many conventional three-part lead/plastic pharmaceutical pigs use athreaded design to connect the cap and the base. Some of these prior artdesigns require several turns to connect the cap and the base. In a busyradiopharmacy, there is a need for a faster and easier way to attach thecap to the base. However, the cap is typically not locked into place,therefore, rough transportation and a failure to provide the requisitenumber of turns can result in the cap untwisting slightly from the baseduring transit with a potential spill of radioactive pharmaceuticalfluid resulting therefrom. Another issue is that the base of aconventional pharmaceutical pig is generally cylindrical making thepharmaceutical pig prone to tipping and falling over on its side. Thepresent invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problemsset forth above. These deficiencies and shortcomings include, but arenot limited to, exposed lead, numerous turns required to attach the capto the base, absence of a locking mechanism to secure the cap to thebase and a cylindrical base where the bottom portion of the base hassubstantially the same diameter as the top portion of the base so thatthe pharmaceutical pig is prone to tipping and falling over on its side.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A pharmaceutical pig is sized and arranged to transport a single syringecontaining a unit dose of a radiopharmaceutical from a radiopharmacy toa medical facility such as a doctor's office, clinic or hospital. Afterthe radiopharmaceutical has been administered to a patient, the usedsyringe is put back into the pharmaceutical pig and returned to theradiopharmacy for proper disposal. The present invention may be usedwith conventional syringes or safety syringes.

In one aspect of this present invention, a polymer pharmaceutical pig isdisclosed. The polymer pharmaceutical pig includes an elongate polymerbase having a base shell that completely encloses a base shieldingelement and having a first hollow center section and an elongate polymercap that is removably attached to the elongate polymer base, theelongate polymer cap, having a second hollow center and a cap shell thatcompletely encloses a cap shielding element.

Moreover, for convenience and ease of use, the amount of rotation of theelongate polymer cap in relation to the elongate polymer base forremovably attaching the elongate polymer base to the elongate polymercap is minimized, i.e., preferably less than three hundred and sixtydegrees (360°), more preferably less than one hundred and eighty degrees(180°) and optimally less than ninety degrees (90°). Preferably, alocking detent is located in the threaded interconnections to secure theelongate polymer base to the elongate polymer cap. The polymer materialutilized in the base shell and the cap shell can include virtually anytype of plastic and is preferably polycarbonate resin, e.g., LEXAN®material, while the base shielding element and the cap shielding elementcan be made of virtually any type of material that blocks radiationemitted from the radiopharmaceutical. This material preferably includeslead as well as tungsten and metallic-filled polymers, with lead beingthe most preferred material due to the low cost and ease ofmanufacturing.

Preferably, the elongate polymer cap is substantially cylindrical andthe bottom portion of the elongate polymer base is substantiallybell-shaped. Moreover, the elongate polymer base of the pharmaceuticalpig preferably includes a top portion having a first diameter, a middleportion having a second diameter and a bottom portion having a thirddiameter, where the second diameter of the middle portion is less thanthe first diameter of the top portion and is less than the thirddiameter of the bottom portion. The elongate polymer cap of thepharmaceutical pig preferably includes a top portion having a fourthdiameter and a bottom portion having a fifth diameter, where the fourthdiameter of the top portion is less than the fifth diameter of thebottom portion.

In the preferred design, the top portion of the elongate base includes aplurality of flattened portions, where at least one flattened portion ofthe plurality of flattened portions includes an arch-like portion andthe bottom portion of the elongate base includes a plurality offlattened portions, wherein at least one flattened portion of theplurality of flattened portions includes an arch-like portion. Thebottom portion of the elongate cap base includes a plurality offlattened portions, where at least one flattened portion of theplurality of flattened portions includes an arch-like portion.Optimally, at least one flattened portion of the plurality of flattenedportions in the top portion of the elongate base is substantiallyaligned with the at least one flattened portion of the plurality offlattened portions in the bottom portion of the elongate cap.

In another aspect of this present invention, an assembly including apharmaceutical pig sized and arranged to transport a syringe isdisclosed. The assembly includes a syringe having a needle, a barrel, apair of wing-shaped finger grips, and a plunger, and a pharmaceuticalpig including an elongate polymer base that completely encloses a baseshielding element. The elongate polymer base having a first hollowcenter section that is sized to surround the needle and at least aportion of the barrel of the syringe and an elongate polymer cap that isremovably attached to the elongate polymer base. The elongate polymercap completely encloses a cap shielding element and the elongate polymercap includes a second hollow center section that is sized to surround atleast a portion of the plunger of the syringe.

In still another aspect of this present invention, a method fortransporting a syringe in a pharmaceutical pig, the syringe having atleast a needle, a barrel, a pair of wing-shaped finger grips, and aplunger is disclosed. The method includes placing a syringe containing aliquid radiopharmaceutical in a pharmaceutical pig having an elongatepolymer base that completely encloses a base shielding element. Theelongate polymer base having a first hollow center section that is sizedto surround the needle and at least a portion of the barrel of thesyringe and an elongate polymer cap that is removably attached to theelongate polymer base. The elongate polymer cap completely encloses acap shielding element and the elongate polymer cap having a secondhollow center section that is sized to surround at least a portion ofthe plunger of the syringe. This is followed by transporting thepharmaceutical pig containing the syringe to a medical facility and thentransporting the pharmaceutical pig and the used syringe back to theradiopharmacy for disposal of the used syringe.

In yet another aspect of this present invention, a method for producinga pharmaceutical pig is disclosed. The method includes molding a baseshielding element in a first mold, molding a cap shielding element in asecond mold. This is followed by inserting the base shielding elementwithin a third mold and injecting molten polymer material into the thirdmold so that when the polymer material hardens, the base shieldingelement is completely enclosed by the polymer material to form anelongate base. This is then followed by inserting the cap shieldingelement within a fourth mold and injecting molten polymer material intothe fourth mold so that when the polymer material hardens, the capshielding element is completely enclosed by the polymer material to forman elongate cap.

These are merely some of the innumerable illustrative aspects of thispresent invention and should not be deemed an all-inclusive listing.These and other aspects will become apparent to those skilled in the artin light of the following disclosure and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the assembledpharmaceutical pig of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the pharmaceutical pig of the presentinvention with an elongate cap separated from an elongate base;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the elongate base for the pharmaceutical pig ofthe present invention without an elongate cap;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the pharmaceutical pig of the presentinvention with an elongate cap, having a cap shield enclosed by a capshell, and the elongate base, having a base shield enclosed by a baseshell, with the elongate cap separated from the elongate base;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the assembled pharmaceutical pig of thepresent invention with an elongate cap, having a cap shield enclosed bya cap shell, and the elongate base, having a base shield enclosed by abase shell, and with a syringe positioned inside the pharmaceutical pig;and

FIG. 6 is an isolated, close-up view of the threaded joint between theelongate cap and the elongate base, as shown in FIG. 5, when thepharmaceutical pig of the present invention is fully assembled and asyringe is positioned within the pharmaceutical pig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the pharmaceutical pigof the present invention that is generally indicated by numeral 10.There is an elongate base 12 and an elongate cap 14. The elongate base12 and the elongate cap 14 of the pharmaceutical pig 10 can be formed inany of a wide variety of shapes and sizes, however, a substantiallycylindrical shape is preferred. Preferably, the elongate base 12includes a top portion that is generally indicated by numeral 16 havinga first diameter, a middle portion that is generally indicated bynumeral 18 having a second diameter and a bottom portion that isgenerally indicated by numeral 20 having a third diameter. The elongatecap 14 includes a top portion that is generally indicated by numeral 22having a fourth diameter and a bottom portion that is generallyindicated by numeral 24 having a fifth diameter. In the preferredembodiment, the second diameter of the middle portion 18 of the elongatebase 12 is less than the first diameter of the top portion 18 of theelongate base 12. The second diameter of the middle portion 18 of theelongate base 12 is also less than the third diameter of the bottomportion 20 of the elongate base 12 to create a bell-shape. Also, in thepreferred embodiment, the fourth diameter of the top portion 22 of theelongate cap 14 is less than the fifth diameter of the bottom portion 24of the elongate cap 14.

The elongate base 12 for the pharmaceutical pig 10, preferably includesa first plurality of flattened portions 28, e.g., four (4), that eachinclude an arch-like portion 30 located on the bottom portion 20 of theelongate base 12 of the pharmaceutical pig 10. The bottom portion 20 ofthe elongate base 12 is preferably bell-shaped to prevent tipping andincludes a domed, bottom surface 32 to reduce material cost, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top portion 16 of the elongatebase 12 for the pharmaceutical pig 10, preferably and optionally,includes a second plurality of flattened portions, e.g., four (4), thatpreferably alternate between rectangular portions 36 and rectangularportions that each have a downwardly extending arch-like portion 34.

The elongate cap 14 for the pharmaceutical pig 10, preferably andoptionally, includes a third plurality of flattened portions 40, e.g.,four (4), that each include an arch-like portion 41. The top portion 22is preferably circular and includes a flat top surface 42, as shown inFIG. 1, which can be labeled as well as easily transported within adelivery case that can hold a multiple number of pharmaceutical pigs 10.

There is a plurality of threaded interconnections, which is generallyindicated by numeral 44, as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, but notnecessarily, there are four (4) threads 45. Preferably, with the presentpharmaceutical pig 10 of the present invention, the amount of turnsrequired to secure the elongate base 12 to the elongate cap 14 isminimized. The preferred amount of turning being one turn (360°) orless, with a more preferred amount of turning being one-half of a turn(180°) or less and the most preferred amount of turning beingone-quarter of a turn (90°) or less. The pitch of the threads 45 canvary greatly depending on the parameters of the pharmaceutical pig 10,with the most preferred value of pitch being 1.38 for the threads 45.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is a series of locking detents 46 thatsecure the elongate base 12 to the elongate cap 14. These lockingdetents 46 lock the elongate base 12 to the elongate cap 14 when thethreads 45 of the elongate cap 14 and the elongate base 12 arecompletely engaged. The elongate cap 14 is flush against the elongatebase 12 after having completed the maximum amount of turning, e.g.,one-quarter of a turn (90°) to seal the elongate cap 14 against theelongate base 12 in fluid-tight relationship. This seal is presentwithout the presence of an additional component that requiresreplacement and maintenance, such as an o-ring.

Located within the elongate cap 14 and elongate base 12 is a capshielding element that is generally indicated by numeral 48 and the baseshielding element that is generally indicated by numeral 54,respectively, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. These shielding elements 48 and54 are typically formed from lead because it is relatively inexpensiveand easy to form. Moreover, these shielding elements 48 and 54 can beformed from any material that blocks the radiation that is emitted fromthe radiopharmaceutical. For example, tungsten is a suitable shieldingelement, but it is more expensive than lead and more difficult to formor mold. Metallic-filled polymer composite materials such as theECOMASS® compounds produced by Engineered Materials, a M. A. HannaCompany having a place of business in Norcross, Ga. can also be used asshielding material.

The cap shielding element 48 has a closed end 52 and an open end 50. Thewalls 56 of the cap shielding element 48 are of generally uniformthickness. The base shielding element 54 has a closed end 58 and an openend 60. The walls 62 of the base shielding element 54 are of generallyuniform thickness.

As shown in FIG. 5 and best illustrated in FIG. 6, the walls 62 of thebase shielding element 54 form a protrusion 64, which is preferably butnot necessarily triangular, which forms an angle T when measured againstthe inside wall of the base shielding element 54. The base shieldingelement 54 includes a ledge near the open end 60 that forms a shoulder66.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the cap shielding element 48 of theelongate cap 14 is completely enclosed by a cap shell 70 having an outercap shell portion 72 and an inner cap shell portion 74. Also, the baseshielding element 54 of the elongate base 12 is completely enclosed by abase shell 76 having an outer base shell portion 78 and an inner baseshell portion 80.

The cap shell 70 and base shell 76 are preferably made of polymermaterial. This can include virtually any type of plastic, however, themost preferred type of material is a polycarbonate resin. A specifictype of polycarbonate resin, which can be utilized with the presentinvention, can be purchased under the mark LEXAN®, which is a federallyregistered trademark of the General Electric Company, having a place ofbusiness at One Plastics Avenue, Pittsfield, Mass. 01201. LEXAN® is verylightweight, but is also known for its impact resistance, clarity,stability and heat resistance.

The preferred method of forming the cap shell 70 and base shell 76 sothat the cap shell 70 and base shell 76 enclose and seal the capshielding element 48 of the elongate cap 14 and the base shieldingelement 54 of the elongate base 12, respectively, is by the process ofmolding. Although the polymer material can be molded in two parts andthen melted or welded to provided the complete enclosure of the capshielding element 48 of the elongate cap 14 and the base shieldingelement 54 of the elongate base 12, the preferred method of molding thepolymer material is by a “two-shot” or “overmolding” process.

Examples of this “two-shot” or “overmolding” process are described in:U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,092, which issued to Werther on Jun. 7, 1988 and wasassigned to Kollmorgen Technologies Corporation, which is incorporatedherein by reference; U.S. Pat. No. 6,381,509, which issued to Thiel etal. on Apr. 30, 2002; and was assigned to Mattec, Inc, which isincorporated herein by reference; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,729, whichissued to Thornton on Jun. 18, 2002, which is incorporated herein byreference.

A significant advantage of the present invention is that no inner lineris utilized. This is a significant advantage since inner liners aretypically discarded after each use. This reduces cost and eliminateswaste.

As also shown in FIG. 5, there is a syringe 83, having: a needle 87shown in phantom; a barrel 86; a plunger 85; and finger grips 93 whichare sometimes called wings. The finger grips 93 may be hexagonal,circular or polygonal; they may fully or partially surround the barrel86. The finger grips 93 are captured between the previously describedshoulder portion 66 formed in the inner base shell portion 80 of thebase shell 76 and the inner cap shell portion 74 of the cap shell 70.The syringe 83 is therefore prevented from lateral movement inside thepharmaceutical pig 10 during transit. The needle 87 and at least aportion of the barrel 86 are positioned in a first hollow center section91 of the elongate base 12. At least a portion of the plunger 85 ispositioned in a second hollow center section 89 of the elongate cap 14.

The pharmaceutical pig 10 is believed to comply with the revisedBloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 C.F.R. Sectional 1910.1030(d)(2))promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration byfully meeting their definition of a “sharps container” by providing acontainer that is: puncture resistant; capable of being labeled orcolor-coded; leakproof on the sides and bottom; and does not require ahealthcare provider to reach by hand into the container where the sharphas been placed.

Method of Use for the Pharmaceutical Pig 10:

A prescription is called in, faxed in, or otherwise given to aradiopharmacy. The pharmacist enters the prescription in a computer andprints out the labels. A self-adhesive label can be attached to thepharmaceutical pig 10 in a conventional fashion. In the alternative, alabel can be attached to the pharmaceutical pig with the flexible sleeve(not shown), without the need for adhesives. A separate label is affixedto a safety syringe or a conventional syringe. The syringe 83 is filledwith a radiopharmaceutical in accordance with the prescription. Thefilled syringe 83 is assayed. In other words, the activity of theradiopharmaceutical in the syringe 83 is measured in a dose calibratorto verify that it complies with the prescription. The filled syringe 83is put in the pharmaceutical pig 10 and then closed. The pharmaceuticalpig 10 is wipe tested for contamination. If the pharmaceutical pig 10passes the wipe test, it is placed in a delivery container.

The delivery containers used by some Mallinckrodt Inc. pharmacies haveinterior padding of rubber foam. Several pharmaceutical pigs 10 may beplaced in a single delivery container. Before leaving the radiopharmacy,the delivery container and the pharmaceutical pigs 10 are wipe testedand surveyed. If the delivery container passes, a DOT label is affixedto the outside of the delivery container and it is delivered to amedical facility.

The pharmaceutical pigs 10 are then opened and the syringe 83 is placedin an injection shield. The radiopharmaceutical is administered to thepatient. The delivery case with the pharmaceutical pigs 10 and usedsyringes 83 are then returned to the radiopharmacy. The syringe 83 isremoved from the pharmaceutical pig 10 and placed in a disposal bin. Thepharmaceutical pig 10 is then washed and dried. The pharmaceutical pig10 is then ready to be reused.

Method of Producing the Pharmaceutical Pig 10:

This involves first molding the base shielding element 54 by pouringmolten, nuclear shielding, material into a first mold (not shown). Thepreferred substance is lead, as opposed to tungsten or metallic-filledpolymers, due to cost considerations and ease of molding. When the baseshielding element 54 has solidified, the base shielding element 54 isthen placed into an injection molding machine (not shown). The polymermaterial, e.g., polycarbonate resin, is then injected and flows into athird mold, having a mold cavity, which surrounds the base shieldingelement 54. After an application of temperature and pressure, asolidified elongate base 12 is released from the mold. This elongatebase 12 includes the base shielding element 54, which is now completelyenclosed by a base shell 76. The base shell 76 includes an inner baseshell portion 80 that is adjacent to the needle 87 and barrel 86 of thesyringe 83 and an outer base shell portion 78 that forms the outersurface of the elongate base 12. In the same manner, the cap shieldingelement 48 is created by pouring molten, nuclear shielding, materialinto a second mold (not shown). As with the base shielding element 54,the preferred substance is again lead. When the cap shielding element 48has solidified, the cap shielding element 48 is placed into an injectionmolding machine (not shown). The polymer material, e.g., polycarbonateresin, is then injected and flows into a fourth mold, having a moldcavity, which surrounds the cap shielding element 48. After anapplication of temperature and pressure, a solidified elongate cap 14 isreleased from the mold. This elongate cap 14 includes the cap shieldingelement 48, which is now completely enclosed by the cap shell 70. Thecap shell 70 includes an inner cap shell portion 74 that is adjacent tothe plunger 85 of the syringe 83 and an outer cap shell portion 72 thatforms the outer surface of the elongate cap 14.

Although a preferred embodiment of the pharmaceutical pig 10, a methodof use of the pharmaceutical pig 10 and a method of production for thepharmaceutical pig 10 have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawingsand described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it is understoodthat the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but iscapable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutionswithout departing from the spirit for the invention as set forth anddefined by the following claims.

1. A method for making a radiopharmaceutical pig comprising: forming ashielding element of a radiation blocking material to have an open topand an interior cavity; forming a first shell part of a polymer materialsized and shaped for reception of at least a portion of the first shellpart into the interior cavity, the first shell part having an open topand defining a space within the cavity for receiving at least a portionof a radiopharmaceutical container; forming a second shell part of apolymer material sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion ofthe shielding element; positioning the first shell part in the interiorcavity of the shielding element; positioning the shielding element intothe second shell part; and subsequent to the positioning of the firstshell part and the positioning of the shielding element, joining thefirst shell part to the second shell part to enclose the shieldingelement within the first and second shell parts to form a base having anopen top.
 2. A method of claim 1, wherein the joining comprises meltingthe first and second shell parts to fuse them together.
 3. A method ofclaim 1, wherein the joining comprises welding the first and secondshell parts together.
 4. A method of claim 1, wherein the shieldingelement constitutes a first shielding element, the method furthercomprising: forming a second shielding element of a radiation blockingmaterial; forming a third shell part; forming a fourth shell part;positioning the second shielding element between the third and fourthshell parts; and subsequent to the positioning of the second shieldingelement, joining the third shell part to the fourth shell part toenclose the second shielding element to form a cap constructed forreleasable connection to the base to close the open top of the base. 5.A method of claim 4, wherein the joining of the third and fourth shellparts comprises melting the third and fourth shell parts to fuse themtogether.
 6. A method of claim 4, wherein the joining of the third andfourth shell parts together comprises welding the third and fourth shellparts together.
 7. A method of claim 4, wherein the forming of the firstshielding element comprises forming the first shielding element from amaterial selected from lead, tungsten and metallic-filled polymers.
 8. Amethod of claim 7, wherein the forming of the second shielding elementcomprises forming the second shielding element from a material selectedfrom lead, tungsten and metallic-filled polymers.
 9. A method of claim4, wherein the cap formed is configured to receive at least a portion ofthe radiopharmaceutical container therein.
 10. A method of making aradiopharmaceutical pig comprising: forming a base shielding elementhaving an open end, a closed end and an interior cavity extendinggenerally between the closed and open ends, the base shielding elementbeing formed from a radiation blocking material selected from a groupconsisting of lead, tungsten and metallic-filled polymers; forming abase shell out of a polymer material, the base shell including an innerbase portion and an outer base portion, the inner base portion beinglocated at least partially in the interior cavity and the outer baseportion being located at least partially on an exterior of the baseshielding element; forming a cap shielding element having an open end, aclosed end and an interior cavity extending generally between the closedand open ends, the cap shielding element being formed from a radiationblocking material selected from a group consisting of lead, tungsten andmetallic-filled polymers; forming a cap shell out of a polymer material,the cap shell including an inner cap portion and an outer cap portion,the inner cap portion being located at least partially in the interiorcavity of the cap shielding element and the outer cap portion beinglocated at least partially on an exterior of the cap shielding element.11. A method of claim 10, wherein the forming of the base shellcomprises molding at least the inner base portion into the interiorcavity of the base shielding element.
 12. A method of claim 10, whereinthe forming of the cap shell comprises molding at least the inner capportion into the interior cavity of the cap shielding element.
 13. Amethod of claim 11, wherein the forming of the base shell comprisesmolding the outer base portion on the exterior of the base shieldingelement.
 14. A method of claim 12, wherein the forming of the cap shellcomprises molding the outer cap portion on the exterior of the capshielding element.
 15. A method of claim 14, wherein the molding of theinner and outer cap portions is carried out in the same mold.
 16. Amethod of claim 14, wherein the molding of the inner and outer capportions comprises completely enclosing the cap shielding element withinthe inner and outer portions.
 17. A method of claim 13, wherein themolding of the inner and outer base portions is carried out in the samemold.
 18. A method of claim 13, wherein the molding of the inner andouter base portions comprises completely enclosing the base shieldingelement within the inner and outer base portions.
 19. A method forhandling a syringe containing a radiopharmaceutical, the methodcomprising: cleaning a radiopharmaceutical pig, the pig comprising: abase comprising a base shielding element made of a radiation-blockingmaterial, a base shell that completely encloses the base shieldingelement and that is made of a polymer material, and a first hollowcenter section defined in the base; and a cap removably attachable tothe base, the cap comprising a cap shielding element made of aradiation-blocking material, a cap shell that completely encloses thecap shielding element and that is made of a polymer material, and asecond hollow center section defined in the cap, the first and secondhollow center sections together forming a cavity in the pig when the capis attached to the base; enclosing the syringe containing theradiopharmaceutical in the cavity of the pig by attaching the removablecap to the base; transporting the pig and the enclosed syringe to amedical facility; detaching the cap from the base to access the syringe;using the syringe to administer the radiopharmaceutical to a patient,thereby making the syringe a used syringe; attaching the removable capto the base and thereby enclosing the used syringe in the cavity of thepig; transporting the pig and the enclosed used syringe from the medicalfacility to another facility; and removing the used syringe from the pigafter the transporting of the used syringe.
 20. A method of claim 19,wherein the cleaning comprises washing and drying the cap shell and baseshell.
 21. A method of claim 19, wherein the cleaning occurs after theused syringe has been removed from the pig.
 22. A method of claim 19,further comprising not using a disposable liner in the cavity to providea barrier between the used syringe and the pig.
 23. A method of claim19, further comprising disposing of the used syringe.
 24. A method ofclaim 19, wherein the using comprises biologically contaminating thesyringe.
 25. A method of claim 19, wherein the cap shell and base shellcomprise polycarbonate resin.
 26. A method of claim 19, wherein theattaching comprises turning the cap relative to the base no more thanabout 360 degrees.